Car dumping mechanism



y 1934- J. P. ANDERSON ET AL ,959,976

CAR DUMPING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 TORNEY 'May 22, 1934. J. P. ANDERSON ET AL 1,959,976

CAR DUMPING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 22, 1934- J. P. ANDERSON El AL CAR DUMPING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1934- J. P. ANDERSON ET AL 1,959,976

CAR DUMPING MECHANI SM Filed Dec. 18, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN ENT 5 WM} BY I A RNEY y 1934- J. P. ANDERSON ET AL 76 CAR DUMPING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 18, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FROM, (mmzssan m Fnon/ (bwnzssae k9 To l, Inseam/i- FAoM, 7 REss/evo/R FROM. [MW/755501? TORNEY Patented May 22, 1934- UfiiT-ED STATES P A TENT ,0 F F I C E CAR DUMPHNG MECHANISM tion of Pennsylvania .ApplicationDecember v18, 1931, Serial No. 581,846

18 Claims.

.An object of four invention'is to provide a mechanism .for dumping the .tiltab'ly mounted body of carsrunning on tracks adjacent saidmechanism.

Another object of .our invention is to provide such a .mechanism with a "plurality of body engaging means and to cause simultaneous movement between said .means during the tilting of the car body.

Afurther object of our invention is to .provide a .means for automatically moving said mechanisminto and out of engagement withsaid car body.

Our invention is primarily designed for use .with cars having no provision for tilting the bodies thereof to discharge the containedlading and the cars are tilted at a fixed discharging station.

These cars may be of the type having doors hinged adjacent the floor of the body and opening outwardly and downwardly as the body is tilted so as to form aprons to discharge the lading away from the tracks as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings or the doors may be of the lift type which are lifted upwardly and away from the body as the body is tilted to discharge the lading. Another type of car known as the :quarry car and having fixed sloping sides may be used equally as well with our invention. The means for con'trollingor operating the doors of the cars form no part of our invention and no means have been illustrated, it being understood that any means suitable for the particular type of car in use .may be provided.

Referring to the'drawings, Fig. 1 shows in elevation, the dumping mechanism when moved into engagement with .the car body and by dot and dash lines, is shown the position of themechanism in fully retracted or idle position; Fig. 2 shows the position of the mechanism when the body is fully tilted; Fig. 3 shows in elevation a view taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 with the mechanism in fully retracted or idle position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of a portion of the mechanism; Fig. 5 shows in elevation an enlarged portion of the mechanism during the upward stroke of the lifting arm; Fig. 6 shows in end elevation the details of the latching mechanism; Fig. 7 is a plan View of the mechanism as shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the control valves in position to charge the reservoir; Fig. 9 shows in diagram the position of the valves during the upward movement of the mechanism to engage the car body; Fig. 10 shows the position of the valves during the-dumpingof the vcar body;

(Cl. El i-64) Fig. 1-1 is .a sectional View taken on line 11-1 1 of Fig. 5.

Referring now 'in detail to the drawings reference character '1 indicates a dump car having trucksZ, underframe 3 and tiltably mounted body a, the car running on tracks 5 mounted adjacent the dumping mechanism. The particular design of car is-of noconsequence as regards my invention. :It may have a body of any design with doors hinged adjacent the sides of the body so as to open "downward when the body is tilted to permit the discharge of the contained 'lading.

vA'djacent'one side of the tracks 5 is mounted the tilting or car dumping mechanism which comprises a dumping cylinder 6 having mounted therein a reciprocating body lifting piston 7. At one end of the piston 7 is a member 8 adapted to engage a suitable depending member 9 on the car body during the upward movement :of the piston to effect the tiltingof the car body. As this mechanism is oftimes used withcars of large capacity, the dumping cylinders 6 and their contained pistons Flare usually mounted in pairs, and connected to the member 11 by meansof the arms 10 to insure simultaneous movement of the body lifting pistons 7 and members 8, theshaft 11 belng mounted in bearings secured to a stand 12. The piston 7 is actuated within the cylinder 6 by fluid pressure stored in the reservoir .13 .hav- .ingsuitable piping and control valves connecting the reservoir to the cylinders and the reservoir to a compressor (not shown).

. During the upward stroke of the piston '7, the arm 10 pivotally mounted atone end-on the shaft 11 and adjacent its other end to the piston by means of a pin 14, guides the member 8 so that the portion 15 thereof engages with the depending member '9 on the car body 4. In order to retain the carbody 4 under control at all times the member '8 has mounted thereon a latch 16 adapted to engage the member 9 securing the members 8 and '9 in position-during the tilting and righting movements of the-car body. The latch 16 is controlled by a mechanism pivotally mounted to the member 8 by means of the pin 17 and is actuated through engagement with th'e arm 10. Thisllatch of a pin 21 having a roller 22 and spacing sleeve 21* mounted thereon and adapted to be engaged by one end of the arm 10. The ends 18 have mounted thereon rollers 23 which are secured thereto by means of a shoulder pin 24.

lhe piston 7 has mounted thereon an eye 25 to which is secured the member 8 and arm 10 by means of the pin 14. Extending outwardly from the eye 25 is a bracket 27 to which is connected a toggle mechanism. This toggle mechanism comprises the members 28 pivotally mounted on the pair of arms 10 on the oppositely disposed faces thereof and are connected intermediate their ends means of a link 29 which in turn is pivotally mounted in the bracket 27 on the pin 30. The free ends of the arm 28 are connected by a pin 31 having a roller 32 mounted thereon. Mounted on the member 8 so as to be disposed between the pair of arms 10 is a hook shaped member 33 which is adapted to be engaged by the roller 32 for a purpose which will be explained as the description proceeds.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings and assuming the mechanism is in the position shown thereon by dot and dash lines and it is desired to tilt the body 4 of the car which has been spotted alongside the mechanism, the operation would be as follows: Air would be admitted to the cylinders 6 forcing the body lifting piston 7 upwardly which in turn would cause the arms 10 to rotate in their bearings on the shaft 11. This upward movement of the piston combined with the movement' of the arms 10 would cause the eye 25 on the end of the piston to move in an arc with a radius of rotation at the center line of the shaft This movement would cause the members 28 connected to the members 29 to swing outwardly towards the car body bringing the roller 32 into engagement with the side of the member 8 causing the end 15 of the member 8 to engage with the depending member 9 of the car body after which the rollers 32 would move out of engagement with the member 8 with the continued rise of the piston 7. This would bring the mechanism into the position as shown by full lines on Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The continued upward movement of the body lifting piston 7 and attached member 8 and arm 10 would bring the guide member 35 with wear plate 37 secured to the arm 10 into engagement with the roller 22 mounted on the ends 13 of the bell crank so that the upward movement of the end 35 of the arm 10 would lift the member 20 which in turn would rotate the latch 16 on its pin bringing the latch into engagement with the depending member 9 on the body 4 and secure the member 9 in engagement with the end 15 of the arm 8. During this movement the roller 23 follows along guide plate 34.

The member 26 mounted on the arm 10 adjacent the guide plate 34 holds the roller 23 in alignment with the guide 34 during the first part of movement of the roller upon the guide plate. The members 34 and 35 are so formed that the bell crank 18 is retained between them until the continued upward movement of the piston 7 rotates the arm 10 to bring the roller 22 of the bell crank onto the lower outer face of the wear plate 37 on the end 35 of the arm 10. Whereupon the roller 22 moving along the wear plate 37 of the member 10 retains the latch in engagement with the depending portion 9 of the body until the piston 7 reaches the limit of its upward stroke bringing the mechanism and car body into the position shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings.

During the movement of the body lifting piston 7 from the idle position shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 to the position of engagement with the car body as shown by full lines in Fig. 1, the

ember 8 being pivotally mounted upon the memher 7 might have a tendency to rotate beyond its point of engagement with the member 9 and to prevent this the member 8 and eye 25 have stops 48 and 49 mounted thereon so that when the stops are in engagement further rotation of the body lifting arm 8 is prevented.

It will be understood that during the above described movement a suitable mechanism of any desired form will be mounted on the body so as to control the opening and closing of the doors through movement of the car body 4. This mechanism forms no part of my present invention and for that reason has not been shown.

After the lacling is completely discharged from the car and it is desired to right the car body the fluid pressure within the cylinder 6 is exhausted therefrom and the body returns to a horizontal position by the force of gravity. During this return movement of the body and con sequently the dumping mechanism, the movement of the various parts of the mechanism is the reverse of their movement during the upward stroke of the piston 7 until the body returns to a horizontal position, at which time the mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

The bell crank 18 and latch 16 will ordinarily release by gravity as the mechanism returns. To overcome any binding that might occur and prevent the latch 16 from releasing, the roller 23 on the end 18 of the bell crank 18 is provided to engage the guide plate 34 by means of which the bell crank is rotated forcing the latch 16 to release. Continued downward movement of the piston 7 brings the roller 32 between the members 28 into engagement with the hook 33 on the member 8 moving the member 8 out of engagement with the depending member 9 of the car body and into the position shown in dot and dash lines on Fig. 1 of the drawings. This movement of the mechanism is assisted by the mounting of the cylinder 6 by reason of the trunnions on the cylinder being spaced a material distance above the center of gravity of the cylinder.

Referring now to'Figs. l, 2, 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings, when the mechanism of Fig. 1 is in the position shown by dot and dash lines, the control valves are in the position illustrated by the diagram of Fig. 8. Thus fluid pressure built up by a compressor (not shown) is stored in the reservoir 13. The path of movement of such fluid pressure being indicated by arrows. It will be noted that the valve 38 permits fluid pressure to pass from the pipeline 39 through valve 38 into the pipeline 40 leading to the reservoir.

The valve 41 permits a fluid pressure in the cylinder to exhaust to the atmosphere through the pipe 42. Also any pressure leaking past the valve 38 into the cylinder pipe 43 will also exhaust through the valve 41. The operating handle 44 of the control mechanism is shown on Fig. 1 by the position marked A.

When the operating handle 44 is moved to the position marked B the control valves assume the position shown by Fig. 9 Here the valve 38 is closed so that fluid pressure from the compressor and reservoir is blocked off from the pipe 40 and 43 but is flowing into pipe 45 to the valve 46. This valve 46 is a needle valve and thesmall opening permits the fluid pressure to :bleed into the valve 41. The needle valve is open at all times and is preferably adjustable. The valve 41 connects the pipe Hand 45 so that when the valve 4'6 is-opened the fluid under pressure flows into the pipe 43 and to the cylinder '6. The slow accumulation 'of pressure moves the piston 'lslowly upwardly until the mechanism engages the car body as shown in full lines on Fig. 1. The adjustabilityof the va'lveASpermits regulation of the speed of upward movement of the piston? and also to overcome clogging.

Referring now to Fig. 2 of the drawings with the handle moved to vertical position and the valves 38 and 41 in the position shown by the diagram of Fig. 10. Fluid pressure from the reservoir comes through pipe 40, through valve 38 into the pipe 43 leading to the cylinder 6, causing the mechanism to move in the position shown by Fig. -2. 'Should the pressure in the reservoir for any reason be insufficient to complete the dumping of the car body the valve 47 may be opened allowing fluid pressure from the compressor to flow directly into the pipe 40 and into the cylinder -6.

To exhaust pressure from the cylinder 6 the valve mechanism is moved to the position-shown on Fig. 8 whicha'llows the mechanism to resume the position shown in .Fig. 1.

It will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart that many changesin the arrangement of the various parts of the dumping mechanism and control valves may be made Without departing from the scope of our invention.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a car dumping mechanism, a body lifting member, a pivotally mounted extension on one end thereof and adapted to engage with the body of the car being dumped, a latch pivotally mounted on said extension for maintaining said extension and car body in operative engagement throughout the entire movement of the dumping body and means operatively associated with said body lifting member for maintaining said extension in operative position and for controlling the movements of said latch.

2. In a car dumping mechanism, a body lifting member, a pivotally mounted extension on one end thereof and adapted to engage with the body of the car being dumped, a latch pivotally mounted on said extension for maintaining said extension and car body in operative engagement throughout the entire movement of the dumping body and means operatively associated with said body lifting member for maintaining said extension in operative position and for controlling the movements of said latch, said means being actuated by the movement of said body lifting member.

3. In a car dumping mechanism, a body lifting member, a pivotally mounted extension on one end of said member and adapted to engage with the adjacent side of the body of the car being dumped, a member pivotally mounted on said body lifting member and operatively associated with said extension for controlling the movements of said extension and body lifting member throughout the entire movements of said car body.

4. In a car dumping mechanism, a reciprocating body lifting member, said member being so mounted as to permit limited movement in a 1 direction transversely of the car body being actuated thereby, .an extension pivotally mounted on said member for engaging with the body of the car being .dumped, :a member pivotally mounted at one end to said body lifting member and at its other end to a support adjacent one side of said body lifting member and out of engagement therewith, said pivotally mounted member being operatively associated with said extension and being actuated by movement of the body. lifting member "to .move said extension into :and out of engagement with the car body simultaneously with the rise and fall of the body lifting member.

5. In a car dumping mechanism, a fluid pressure actuated dumping cylinder, at body lifting member mounted in said cylinder :for movement longitudinally thereof, said cylinder being mounted on trunnio-ns adjacent one end thereof, a member pivotally mounted adjacent one side of said cylinder and operatively engaged with said body lifting member, said pivotally mounted member being actuated by movements of said body lifting member 'soas to camera limited 'rotation of .said cylinder on its trunnions to .maintain the mechanism in operative position.

6. In a car dumping mechanism, a fluid pressure actuated dumping cylinder, -a body lifting member movably mounted in said cylinder, a pivotal'ay mounted extension on one end of said member, a latch pivotally mounted on said extension, and a member pivotally mounted adjacent one side of said cylinder, operatively associated with said body lifting member and actuated by the movement thereof for controlling the movements of said extension and pivotally mounted latch.

7. In a car dumping mechanism, "a "plurality of reciprocating body lifting members, means on said members for engagement with the :body of the car being dumped and means operatively associated with each of said body lifting members for controlling the movements thereof so as to provide simultaneous movement thereof and to cause limited rotation simultaneous with the tilting of the car body, said means comprising pivotally mounted arms on said body lifting members and a connecting member secured to said arms.

8. In a car dumping mechanism, a plurality of fluid pressure actuated body tilting cylinders, body lifting members mounted in each of said cylinders, pivotally mounted extensions on each of said members and adapted to engage with the car body upon upward movement of said body lifting members, means for causing simultaneous movement of said members within said cylinders and means operatively associated with said body lifting members and actuated by movement thereof for guiding said extensions into engagement with the car body and maintaining them in operative position during the entire dumping b.-

movements of the body.

9. In a car body dumping mechanism, a plurality of fluid pressure actuated body tilting cylinders, body lifting members mounted in each of said cylinders, extensions pivotally mounted on said body lifting members, latch means operatively associated with said extensions and means operatively associated with said body lifting members for causing simultaneous movement of said members within said cylinders, said means comprising a member operatively associated with said extension and latch for maintaining said latch and extension in engagement with said body when the body is out of normal position.

10. In a mechanism of the character described,

lid

a pivotally mounted car body engaging member, a guiding and controlling member, each of said members having a common point of attachment to said mechanism, means on said last mentioned member for moving said pivotally mounted men-- b'er into and out of operative position.

11. In a mechanism of the character described,

in combination, a reciprocating power member, a car body engaging member, a guide for said reciprocating member, said. guide and body engaging members having a common means attaching same to said reciprocating member, a pivotally mounted arm on said guide member, a member pivotally mounted at one end on said power member and at the other end interme diate the ends of said arm, said arm being actuated by the movement of said power member.

12. In a car dumping mechanism, in combina-- tion, a body lifting member, a guide member operatively associated with said body lifting member, a latch member mounted on the body lifting member and controlled by the guide member.

13. In a car dumping mechanism, in combination, a jointed body lifting member, a guide member operatively associated with the body lifting member, and a toggle member operatively associated with the guide and lifting members to provide transverse movement to the upper portion of the lifting member.

14. In a car dumping mechanism, in combination, a plurality of body lifting members, a guide member operatively associated with each lifting member and a connection between the guide members providing simultaneous movement of the lifting members independent of the lifting members actuating means.

15. In a car dumping mechanism, in combination, a fluid pressure actuated body lifting member having an initial transverse movement, a fluid pressure reservoir and a fluid pressure control mechanism, said control mechanism comprising a plurality of connected valves providing a variable speed vertical movement of the body lifting member, a positive exhaust of the fluid pressure from the mechanism and an auxiliary exhaust between the connection to the reservoir and to the pressure actuated mechanism when the control mechanism is in exhaust position.

15. In a car dumping mechanism, in combination, a pivotally mounted cylinder, at fluid pressure actuated member within said cylinder, guide means pivotally mounted on a fixed support and operatively associated with said member, said guide being actuated by movement of said member so as to cause movement of said cylinder upon its supports.

17. In a dumping mechanism for a car having a tiltably mounted body, in combination, an upwardly movable member for selective engagement with a car body, a means for actuating said member, a guide means operatively associated with said member, said guide means being actuated by movement of said member and controlling the direction of movement thereof.

18. In a dumping mechanism for a car having a tiltable body, in combination, a body tilting member, means actuating said member and a guide member having one end engaging said body lifting member and the other end connected to a fixed support, said guide member retaining said lifting member and actuating member in operable alignment throughout the body tilting movement.

JOHN P. ANDERSON. CARL W. MILLER. 

